From Finance Guy to Full-Time Creator: How Garrett Quit the 9–5 by Reviewing NYC Diners
Here's a conversation with Garrett Thomas (@garrettfromgoldies), my podcast guest this week on That One Time with Adam Metwally.
Ever wonder how an ex-finance bro becomes a TikTok sensation—documenting every bite of a simple diner breakfast, yet weaving in philosophy, community, and big-picture thinking?
That’s Garrett.
He’s the mind behind the viral “Diners, Diners, and Diners” series.
He went from crunching numbers on Wall Street to reviewing late-night pancakes and morning coffees for hundreds of thousands.
Below are some of the key concepts we explored in the episode:
How a daily routine and a “series-based” format can supercharge your content creation.
Why building a loyal community trumps going viral (and how to actually make that happen).
Real-life lessons on dealing with massive city challenges—from mental health to empathy, and what it all means for your creative ambitions.
Timestamps:
00:00 The Journey to Content Creation
02:50 Building Community Over Virality
06:02 The Evolution of Diners, Diners, and Diners
08:47 The Importance of Series-Based Content
12:06 Crafting Engaging Content
14:59 The Art of Riffing and Storytelling
18:09 The Discipline of Daily Content Creation
20:48 Niche Down or Broaden Your Reach?
24:14 Monetizing Content and Audience Engagement
26:56 Philosophy and Responsibility in Content Creation
31:57 The Wisdom of Boethius
34:12 Journey to New York: A Personal Story
36:41 Navigating Life Changes and Career Shifts
39:55 Listening to the Universe: Signs and Decisions
41:26 The Podcasting Journey: Challenges and Rewards
43:32 Content Creation: The Evolution of Discovery
48:41 The Grit Behind Content Creation
55:14 Dressing Well: A Form of Respect
59:56 Becoming a New Yorker: Community and Connection
1:00:41 The Catalyst of Change: Addressing Homelessness
1:12:42 Proactive vs. Reactive Policies in Mental Health
1:27:14 The Meaning of Life: Personal Reflections and Aspirations
It’s up on YouTube, Spotify, X, and everywhere else.
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